League Play-Off

Burnham on Crouch
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Riadh El Ouaer started the match with the kick off. José BenAmor kicked well hit freekick during the 2nd minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Olympique Mahdia's zone, Riadh El Ouaer stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Hedhili David came out of the goal and Riadh El Ouaer tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Muhammad Cherif kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. Riadh El Ouaer was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 7th minute. Burnham on Crouch's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. 9 minutes into the game, Riadh Mestiri cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Mohamed Ladgham was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The supporters of Olympique Mahdia booed when Burnham on Crouch was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abdelwahab Kallel didn't get a good kick on the ball. Abdelwahab Kallel hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. Mehdi Mestiri took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 15th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Mohamed Ladgham. Burnham on Crouch's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Aziz Belgacem got free with Hedhili David in the 23rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 24 minutes into the match, Olympique Mahdia's goal looked a bit too open when Riadh El Ouaer came free, but Hedhili David reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 24 played minutes Olympique Mahdia got a freekick which was hit by Fatah Cherif. Aymen Merdassi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Aymen Merdassi might have been able to make a better finish in the 41st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Mohamed Ladgham. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Aymen Merdassi ran back to his position shaking his head. Mohamed Ladgham showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zoubaier al-Husain in the 44th minute of the match. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Aymen Merdassi was the one to do the kick off. With a little luck, Burnham on Crouch's Mohamed Ladgham got control of the ball when Riadh Mestiri tried to sneak it across the goal line. Abdelwahab Kallel charged in rather forcefully in the 60th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abdelwahab Kallel the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Burnham on Crouch's Abdelwahab Kallel got a free kick in the 60th minute. Hedhili David showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Aziz Belgacem, who was totally free with the ball in the 63rd minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Aziz Belgacem managed to get in a good position for a shot. Burnham on Crouch's supporters rose to their feet, but Aziz Belgacem was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Hedhili David breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Aziz Belgacem fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hedhili David having to interfere. Aymen Merdassi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 80th match minute, Burnham on Crouch was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Riadh El Ouaer to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Olympique Mahdia booed when Burnham on Crouch was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abdelwahab Kallel didn't get a good kick on the ball. Aziz Belgacem recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Aziz Belgacem fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Hedhili David having to interfere. Hedhili David made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Riadh El Ouaer in the 92nd minute of play. If Aymen Merdassi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 94th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Slaheddine Karoui's late challenge caught a Olympique Mahdia's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Slaheddine Karoui helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Olympique Mahdia booed when Burnham on Crouch was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 95 match minutes in a wonderful position. Slaheddine Karoui didn't get a good kick on the ball. The Olympique Mahdia supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Olympique Mahdia would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.